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 Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:00 pm
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Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2008 9:01 pm
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 11:11 am
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Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:19 pm
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Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:50 pm
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Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:20 am
Edge sat at the kitchen table, reading his Sunday paper. For once, he was home on a weekend morning...however, instead of spending the time bonding with his son, he sat in silence. Reese was downstairs in the pool, doing laps and practicing his trick catching. He never spent any time in the kitchen anymore, or the T.V. room, or really anywhere where he might have to speak with Edge. It broke the man's heart, however he'd fallen into a defeated depression in regards to trying to fix it.
After all, this was nothing new. He'd ruined his family once before due to his shady business dealings.
Hearing a call pull up outside, Edge registered that it must be Wilbur coming back home as her heard the garage door open. The butler had gone out to get groceries a few hours earlier, and knowing he'd probably have one too many bags, Edge stood to go help his friend and employee with the bags.
"Good morning, Sir," Wilbur greeted his boss as he entered the garage, starting to pull bags out of the back. "There was a letter for you in the box."
"But it's Sunday," Edge commented curiously as they entered the house.
"Indeed, but this one didn't go through normal mail," the butler said, putting down the bags he carried and pulling the letter from his coat pocket. "It's from DCorp."
Edge's face darkened, taking the letter. What did they want? Hadn't they done enough damage to his family? If Edge didn't need them...if Reese wasn't so valuable to him, he would have taken the boy and ran a long time ago.
Opening and reading the letter, for once Edge felt something like relief. Reese's dragon, the one thing that the boy held near and dear, would be here soon. Maybe it could be this animal to bring back the old Reese, make him joyous and friendly again. After all, this was Reese's whole reason for living...and the boy's one and true desire.
"Excellent," Edge said, darting out of the kitchen and heading towards the basement.
---
Reese pulled himself up into the side of the pool, near his wheelchair, panting softly from his workout. He'd just completed another set of laps, and his muscles burned from the movement. Which meant, Reese knew, he'd done too much this time. With his compromised sensory system, when his muscles actually felt strained, they were well beyond that point and where almost breaking in agony.
In one way, it made Reese feel accomplished. He was able to work longer, do more, and push himself further...but at the same time, it worried him. What if some day he really did hurt himself?
"At leatht I'll know I'm alive," he muttered darkly, grabbing a nearby towel and starting to dry his hair.
When he finally pulled the towel off his head, he was surprised to see Edge standing at the bottom of the stairs. In a moment, the seahorse boy's large eyes narrowed into a glare, and his mouth twisted into a deep frown. What did he want? Why did he have to come down here? It was one of the few places Reese felt safe and comfortable these days. Why did Edge have to ruin in?
"What do you want?" Reese nearly spat, his tail curling defensively up under him.
At first, Edge didn't say anything...Reese could tell, he was picking his words carefully. Then the man held out his hand, a piece of paper and an opened envelope displayed.
"A letter came from DCorp today," he explained, his voice sounding strange. Broken, but Reese wouldn't understand that.
Reese eyed the letter suspiciously as he pulled his wheelchair closer, crawling up into it. Since he started swimming more, his arm strength had greatly improved. He hardly needed Wilbur's help anymore, which suited the boy just fine. Pushing himself forward, he wheeled over towards Edge and took the letter with a snatch.
First he felt joy...why wouldn't he? His dragon was coming...and soon! He'd finally have a friend in this house, someone he could take care of without lies or deceit. However, the words "standard human child" left a bad taste in Reese's mouth.
"Nothing thtandard or human about me," he muttered, turning around and starting to wheel away from his father figure. "I'll leave the form on your dethk tomorrow," Reese said over his shoulder.
Edge noticeably slumped as the boy wheeled away. He'd expected...something, anything better than that. This dragon was supposed to make Reese happy. What had happened? Without another word, Edge returned upstairs. He supposed...he would just have to wait for the hatching, and hope for the best.
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Posted: Sat Aug 28, 2010 1:29 am
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:52 pm
Saedah was doing something stupid, and brave at the same time. Stupid because she was running away, or slithering away as it may be. Brave cause that was something very tough for a girl like her to do. Timid about everything the world could throw at her. Terrified of most of it, and currently the idea of getting a dragon outweighed the scariness of the outside world. So she had bundeled up a few of her belongings, she didn't own much after all and after double checking her note was on the table for her father she slipped out of the door and then proceeded to lock it. Putting the key in her little pouch of a purse she then headed down the hallway trying to be brave.
The further she got fro the door however the worse her doubts became.
So lost she was in her own thoughts even when the door to the elevator opened she didn't notice many things around. Get out and away was her primary goal.
When the bell dinged inside the elevator, Reese's face immediately turned into a scowl. He wasn't expected - hadn't *wanted* - to run into anyone today. Wilbur had been apprehensive about taking the boy to DCorp again, and honestly Reese couldn't blame him after all the trouble he'd gone through because of them. However, there was something inside Reese that just...wouldn't let him not be there. His dragon was coming, he *knew* it, and he had to be there when it hatched. So today he'd commanded Wilbur to drop him off, and was heading towards the incubation rooms when the elevator came to a stop. Sighing...well, more like huffing, really...he rolled himself around in his chair in order to make room for this new person, set to fix them with his glare, hoping to scare them off...before the doors opened, and there sat "Thaedah?" he breathed, almost gasping, the darkness vanishing from his face to be replaced with amazement. He hadn't seen her...in a very, very long time. ---
Saedah was in such a rush to leave she hadn't really heard Reese until her tongue flickered out and she could taste his scent in the air. She had physically moved past him in her rush only to slow down and then turn around, seeing him was enough to break her resolve it seemed as tears poured from the corners of her eyes.
"Re...reese.." She managed to mumble as she slithered back over to him in a hurry. She reached for him in a desperate need for contact.
He moved the wheelchair around to face her, utterly confused as she started to cry...opening his arms to her when she reached for him, catching her hands and pulling her into a hug, petting her back and holding her close. "Thae...cchhhh," he hushed, comfortingly, with his lisp making his words awkward as always. "Thaedah, it'th ok...what'th wrong?" Had someone hurt her? Scared her? Someone had scared her, hadn't they? His arms tensed protectively around her, his tail uncoiling from his footrest to gasp her tail possessively. Even his face, at first so light and happy to see her, once again darkened at the idea that someone was bothering Saedah. "What happened?" he asked again.---
Saedah was crying hard, it was too hard to speak but all the emotions she had helf back for her father spilled out all at once. She didn't WANT a dragon, and yet everyone said she had to get one. Why? She didn't want it she didn't want anything to do with it.
"I.." She was gasping for breath, if she didn't calm down her crying was going to send her spiraling into a panic attack. Her short choppy breaths were making her light headed.
Oh god, Saedah...what happened to you? Reese eased himself away from her, the hardness in his gaze replaced with an urgent need to get her to calm down. "Thaedah, relacth. I'm here now, you're gonna be ok...jutht calm down." His fingers wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to meet and hold her gaze long enough to give her something to focus on. "You gotta breathe, you're gonna make yourthelf thick." He took a few deep, slow breaths. "Like thith," he encouraged. "In....and out."---
Saedah choked on some air when she first tried, when her resolved crumbeled it literally exploded, her body shook as she held onto Reese tightly, her tail wrapping around Reese's as she tried to do as he asked. Breathing, right father always said she should count to ten.
So in her mind she counted and she tried to breath like Reese instructed her, the haziness was going away...the panic was slowly receeding. SHe clung to Reese though as if afriad to let go.
"t..thank y..you r...reese.." she whispered.
"Of courthe Thae," he said softly, almost whispering himself as she finally managed to calm herself down. He kept his breathing slow and easy, setting a pace for her to listen to and hopefully be comforted by. He kept his arms tightly around her, gently stroking her back. He wanted so desperately to know what happened, why she was upset....and who'd hurt her, so he could go beat them up. Or go find someone who could beat them up for him...but anyway. He wouldn't push right away, giving her some more time to get her emotions under control and to ensure that she was absolutely OK to start explaining what had upset her so terribly. "Are you hurt anywhere?" a small question...not prying, just being concerned.---
Swallowing air she shook her head, her pretty pink hair just falling into her eyes, getting messed up because of her sudden latching onto Reese. "N..no I am..f..fine..." She managed to say quietly and suddenly feeling very embaressed to be clutching to Reese so tightly. SHe didn't let go though...she really really didn't want to.
"Then what happened?" He was pressing further now, his fingers gentle as they moved the hair from her eyes and wiped more tears away. "You had me tho thcared." Matter of fact, not accusing. He didn't want her to feel bad, feel worried...he was being as non-threatening as Reese had ever known to be. He'd remembered from the many times that they'd met before that Saedah got upset easily by loud or angry voices and noises...he never wanted to cause her any fear. ---
She did feel bad, she didn't want Reese to be scared, wilting a bit she took a deep breath and then played with a peice of hair. Reese was going to think it stupid.....most people did.
"I...w..was runn..running away from..h..home.." She murmured finally, "I don't want a dragon!" She explained, "everyonesaysihavetohaveonebutidon'tandsoiamrunningaway.' She finishe with a rush of words that even she had a hard time understanding.
This again. Reese sighed, still unable to understand what it was that frightened her so much about dragons...or did he? Letting that sink in a bit, what he had just been thinking about, well...about Sae being afraid of big, loud things that seemed angry. He was reminded of the picture books he'd read as a child, where the dragons seemed to imposing and fierce. "Thae," he said softly, resting his chin on her shoulder in a thoughtful manner. "Running away won't ficth it. They'll jutht find you and bring you back," he tried to explain, remembering the time he'd disappeared and Wilbur - a very angry, angry Wilbur - had found him hanging out with those rhino twins and their brothers. "And...and your dad would worry, and be thcared. I'd be thcared, if I hadn't run into you and you'd left." After all, Sae's dad was a nice, if strange, man who obviously cared for his daughter. "Tho you can't jutht run away."---
Saedah just trembeled in his arms, after all she knew running away wasn't going to solve anything, but at this point she was willing to try. "Yes I can..I'..I'll hide really well so they don't find me...I'..i'll write you letters Reese...I ..just..just can't stay here. I don't want a dragon I just don't!" She protested a flurry of words into his chest. A dragon was the last thing in the world she wanted. Why didn't anyone understand that??
Because she didn't have a choice in the matter; Reese thought back to when he was little and had met a certain Koala girl who had told him that his very reason for existing was to be given a dragon. For Reese, that had been a dream come true...and Saedah, a nightmare. And as she sobbed against his chest again, he simply squeezed her shoulders. He couldn't tell her wonderful stories about dragons...he didn't really know any dragons that weren't big and loud and scary. "Maybe you're right," he finally said, sounding thoughtful. He hugged her again, his voice sad. "But...where will you go? How will I know how to find you?" Just...waste...time. There was a part of him that felt so guilty, but he couldn't let her leave the building. He may never see her again if she managed to get out.---
Saedah had thought about it, honestly she had. First she was going to run to where Geia lived and then maybe hide out in his bedroom awhile. BUt no..Geia was too honest and kind...he would probably turn her in...Maybe she would hide...oh who was she kidding?? She was terrified of everything...but right now anything seemed better than staying.
"I..dunno Reese...b..but I can't stay here...I just can't.." The girl managed to say as she whiped the tears from her eyes .
Reese moved Sae's hair out of her face once again. "Poppa won't let you thtay with uth..." His eyes darkened in a very uncharacteristic way; he seemed older for the moment, his jaw set tightly. "He'd jutht...thend you back here." When he looked around, trying to think, the anger was gone as quickly as it had come onto him. After all, Saedah couldn't see him like that all the time, especially not now. "Come on. I know they have a cafeteria around here thomewhere. Let'th get you thomething to drink while we figure out where you can go. Can't jutht wander around...that'th dangerouth."---
Saedah didn't want to go to the cafeteria...she wanted to leave the building. STill she couldn't bring herself to move off of Reese. After all he was her anchor at the moment. She felt mildly dissapointed she couldn't stay with Reese...she wondered out of desperate hope if the scary snake boy Ter would hide her.
"O..okay.." SHe relented if only because she didn't want to get off of Reese's lap.
Reese squeezed his arms around Saedah one more time, before he placed his hands on the wheels and turned them around. In his head, Reese was impressed that he could move the both of them now; but then again, he was older and swam *a lot*...his upper arm strength was improving in leaps and bounds. Sure, it was slow going - and a bit awkward - but Sae was more coils than she was actual weight, so he managed to roll the two of them back into the elevator when it dinged for them, and back out again. Random Tech Y was attempting to scuttle past them, but Reese managed to grab their attention and ask for directions. Soon, they were rolling through the doors to a deserted room; evidently, it was either way too early or late for lunch. "Come on, letth get you a thoda," he said, offering another smile.---
Saedah wasn't big on sugary beverages, but when offered she could only nod her head. Right now it was just easier to agree than to protest. After all she had been protesting an aweful lot lately. She had been silent the entire way to the cafeteria...and after awhile it dawned on her she must be crushing Reese's lap. The cornsnake girl couldn't have that and so slowly slipped off the boy's lap, gathering her coils close to her as she quietly waited for him. She was like a good little Asian wife.
At least she felt ok enough to slide off his lap...that was definitely an improvement. Rolling off towards the soda machine on the wall, Reese pulled his wallet out of the backpack on his wheelchair and got two regular sodas before starting to head back to the snake girl. He wouldn't understand the whole female roles thing...probably wouldn't for a while. As far as he knew, she was just upset...and that was how Saedah acted. "Here we go," he said, chewing his lip a bit as he opened the bottle with a satisfying hiss. He offered it to her, settling back into his wheelchair and opening the other once his hands were free. "Tho what happened? I mean, I know you've been dreading thith for a while, but what made you thuddenly deshide to run?" ---
The young girl took the cold can, and shivered as the coolness seeped into her fingers and seemed to spread up her arm. "Papa told me...h..he told me tha...that my dr..ragon was abo..about to h..at..hatch.." She explained quietly. Running her thumb along the rim she tried to bring herself to drink the sugary stuff.
He sipped his soda, his tail coiling apprehensively around the footrest of his wheelchair. "That maketh it real," was his comment. He knew that's how he'd felt when Edge had brought him the paperwork about his dragon. It wasn't just a thing that was going to happen sometime in the future. The egg visit was helpful, but to actually be told 'it's coming' made everything different. "i with I could let you come thtay with me, Thae..."---
The young girl was about to respond as her hopes seemed to be sinking in lower and lower. She looked about ready to brust back into tears her hands trembling .
"Saedah."
The voice came from across the room, it caused the girl to stiffen and then look over her shoulder in a guilty manner. Uh oh...caught. Her father came up, his hair was slightly messed as if he had been rushing. Perhaps he had...after all he had gotten her note about running away.
"Reese..." The older man greeted with a small nod of his head. "I am glad to have found you with someone Saedah.."
Reese's head snapped up when he heard her father. While one part of him was disheartened that they'd been discovered...the other was terribly, terribly relieved. It was really better that she was found now, before things got too carried away. At least he was handling it a far cry better than Wilbur ever handled anything. "Hello, Thir," Reese responded, rolling himself forward beside Saedah in a protective manner. Did he feel threatened? No, not really...but he knew she would be upset, and he wanted to shelter her from pain as much as he possibly could.---
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